Everything within the Stone Wall Formation was cloaked in darkness.
The eight stone walls seemed governed by some unseen law. They were only three zhang high, but not a single ray of light could penetrate their barrier.
Song Ping was rolling on the ground in pain, swearing at the man who had caused him to be in that condition. "Lu Chen... I'll kill you."
The Yang Purifying Water enveloped his entire body, leaving him completely unable to summon even the slightest strength to stand.
The Yang Purifying Water was a Dao technique for purification. Beyond dispelling demonic qi, it completely isolated Song Ping's aura. This was why Lu Chen had insisted on using it the moment he discovered it.
Crouched atop the stone wall, Lu Chen looked down at him. "The effect isn't bad... the demonic qi is steadily fading."
Seeing Lu Chen enter the formation, Song Ping gritted his teeth and struggled to rise. He let out a furious roar, "Lu Chen..."
After that, he collapsed heavily once more.
Lu Chen shook his head and leapt down from the wall. "Was that really necessary?"
Fuelled by nothing more than pure rage, Song Ping swung a fist at Lu Chen. "What did you do to my dragon? Why has its aura vanished?"
"Heh, do you still expect it to have any strength left under a seal?"
Lu Chen easily dodged the attack, then bent down to lift the Hunyuan Greatsword. "You're so loyal and sentimental; it's no wonder you could nurture the embryonic form of a spirit within your weapon. But now you need to rest."
He flicked his hand, sending a beam of spiritual light into Song Ping's forehead. It targeted his core and sealed all the major meridians in his body.
"What are you doing?! I can't sense my own spirit qi!"
Suddenly losing control over his spirit qi, Song Ping staggered backward. Panic overtook him as he stared at Lu Chen's calm smile. He tried to flee.
"You... what are you trying to do to me? Let me go! I will kill you!"
"Hmph, you're making too much noise. Rest, first," Lu Chen said.
Clenching his fist, he restrained Song Ping and wove a series of hand seals, beginning to restore his own spirit qi. He directed the recovered spirit qi toward maintaining the formation while purging the lingering demonic qi from Song Ping's body.
Song Ping's consciousness gradually returned as the demonic qi dissipated. "Ugh... what's happening to me?"
The effects of possession faded, and the moment he spoke, he lost consciousness entirely. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel⟡fire.net
Lu Chen exhaled softly. "Huh?
Circulating the cold spirit qi from the Yin Ocean Pearl, he formed over ten small beads in front of Song Ping. He slipped them into a jade vial and said, "I've only meant to spar with you. I didn't intend to shatter your weapon. I don't have much to offer, but since you use an ice spear, these innate cold spirit qi beads should provide some assistance.
"I'm not sure of their grade, but since they come from the Yin Ocean Pearl, they shouldn't be low. Think of it as an apology."
Feeling the cold energy, Song Ping shivered violently and snapped his eyes open. "Huh? So dark... but at least it's cold."
Lu Chen guided the Stone Wall Formation and raised a stone behind Song Ping. "You're awake? Rest for now. Lean against the stone."
Song Ping struggled to look at Lu Chen in front of him. "Lu Chen? Where are we?"
"We're still on the airship. The battle has just ended."
He shook his head, trying to clear the dizziness. Staggering to his feet, he leaned against the stone. "What happened?"
His vision was still fuzzy. "Also... what's all this on my body?"
"That's a seal meant to protect you."
Song Ping clutched his head, shaking violently. "Ah... My head hurts so much. Why... can't I sense my spirit qi?"
Song Ping sensed his Heavenly Pool and staggered toward Lu Chen. "Lu Chen, what's going on?"
Lu Chen replied, "The seal is the one that's stopping you from sensing your spirit qi. Just wait for a while. Uncle Jun and the others will be here soon."
By now, Song Ping had calmed slightly. "Huh? What are they going to do? I thought we were supposed to have a fair fight in the arena."
"Exactly," Lu Chen said with a sly, almost sinister smile. "But the battle's already over. Judging by your current state, you should know the result."
"The battle's over? That's impossible."
Leaning against the stone, Song Ping shook his head frantically. "I'm the top disciple of Serene Void Academy. I've even joined the Godslayer Squad. My cultivation surpasses yours by a whole realm. There's no way I could lose, absolutely not."
Lu Chen didn't offer much explanation. He simply shook his head. "You'll see soon enough."
Song Ping reached out and kicked Lu Chen gently a few times. "By the way... what's this on me? It feels so warm and comfortable."
He tried to tear at the thin layer of Yang Purifying Water, but it seemed offended by the attempt and released a scalding burst of energy.
"Ugh! It's burning... what the hell is this?"
"Don't touch the seal. You were just possessed by an inner demon. That liquid is needed to purge the demonic qi," Lu Chen explained.
"So it really is a seal... but why is it in liquid form?"
Curiosity got the better of him, and Song Ping tried to pull at the Yang Purifying Water again.
Lu Chen quickly stopped him. "It can block your aura, preventing demonic qi from controlling you."
"Demonic qi? Impossible. My Dao heart is, as the lord often says, the most steadfast in Serene Void Academy."
Song Ping let out a cold, disbelieving laugh. "Keep boasting, then. One moment you claim to have defeated me, the next that I've succumbed to demonic qi."
"Ah... why don't you believe me?"
Song Ping snorted and stopped paying attention to Lu Chen. He no longer tugged at the Yang Purifying Water.
The area inside the stone formation was dark. Song Ping crawled on the ground, groping for his Ice Soul Spear. "Huh? Where is it?"
He stretched a hand toward Lu Chen. "I can't sense my Ice Soul Spear with my spirit qi. Lu Chen, release some of your spirit qi to help me find it."
Lu Chen looked puzzled and asked, "What are you trying to do?"
"I can't find my weapon. Have you seen it?"
Lu Chen chuckled awkwardly. "Have you really forgotten what happened?"
"What did I forget? What am I supposed to remember?"
Song Ping tapped Lu Chen on the shoulder. "Forget it. Just release some spirit qi. It's too dark here."
Lu Chen sighed awkwardly. "Ah... don't regret it."
He summoned a small clump of fire in front of him, and the flame floated in midair, illuminating the entire stone formation.
Song Ping looked around and finally saw his surroundings clearly. He pointed at the towering stone walls. "Why is there another wall over there? Why would there be stone walls on the airship?"
"You didn't really forget, did you?"
Lu Chen placed a hand on Song Ping's forehead. "I'm sure I didn't hit your head."
"What do you mean? What exactly should I remember?"
Song Ping pushed Lu Chen's hand away. "Just tell me what's going on. And why are my clothes in tatters? What exactly happened?"
Lu Chen parted the stone walls, revealing the Frost Dragon restrained by chains. "To put it simply, that is your Ice Soul Spear."
"That's my dragon? How could it manifest in the present world? And why can't I sense it?"
Song Ping stared at the Frost Dragon in the sky. Suddenly, a series of memories flashed through his mind. They were the events of the earlier battle.
"My head... it hurts. What are these memories? Why did I attack the disciples of Serene Void Academy? Why didn't the lord intervene in time?"
He pounded his head as images of Lu Chen unleashing his various techniques flashed in his mind. "These stone walls... could they be your technique? Uh..."
Lu Chen scratched his head and smiled awkwardly. "Looks like you're about to remember everything."
"Are these images real?" Song Ping blinked in confusion and looked at Lu Chen. "You weren't serious just now, were you? My weapon... is it really broken?"
Lu Chen was reluctant to confirm the truth. He hesitated but eventually nodded.
"It's really broken? How... how could this happen? That was an Earth Tier weapon!"
Song Ping's eyes glazed over as he stared at Lu Chen's nod. The demonic qi that had just subsided began to stir once again.
"How is it broken? That spear has been nurtured for decades since I was a child. You actually... broke it?"
Unable to accept the reality, black demonic qi appeared once again in Song Ping's eyes. The man grabbed Lu Chen by the collar and roared, "Lu Chen, you didn't expect this, did you? Once someone has been possessed by demonic qi, it's not so easy to snap out of it. Ah..."
Lu Chen sighed and placed his hand on Song Ping's forehead, activating the Yang Purifying Water. "Hold onto your true heart. Do not succumb to your inner demon again."
The scalding water instantly consumed the demonic qi surging through Song Ping's body. A humanoid shadow emerged from him, kneeling and begging for mercy. "No... Please don't kill me. I don't want to disappear."
Lu Chen flicked his finger, and the shadow dissolved into black smoke.
Song Ping gradually calmed, staring blankly into Lu Chen's eyes. "How... how could this happen? I really succumbed to demonic qi?"
Lu Chen stood and patted him on the shoulder. "It's not your fault. Uncle Jun and the others had orchestrated your possession in advance."
Song Ping trembled slightly as the last traces of shadow in his eyes vanished. With his inner demon purged, his movements steadied, and his speech became clear as he walked over to Lu Chen. "Still, there was no need to break the Ice Soul Spear."
Lu Chen deactivated the Stone Wall Formation and gave a sheepish smile. "It was indeed me who broke the Ice Soul Spear, but only to meet Uncle Jun's conditions."
"I suppose they did it to prepare for you to reforge your weapon. Your original weapon was a bit underpowered."
"Ah... I should have anticipated something . But the cost... it is just too high..."
Song Ping trailed off, letting out a long sigh as he handed a token to Lu Chen.